Drum half, tire building machine and method for operating said tire building machine

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method for operating a tire building machine, wherein the tire building machine comprises a first drum half, wherein the first drum half comprises a base for mounting the first drum half to the drum shaft, wherein the base has a central axis that is arranged to coincide with the rotation axis, wherein the base is arranged to be movable over the drum shaft in the axial direction parallel to said central axis, wherein the first drum half is further provided with a turn-up section comprising a plurality of turn-up arms and an arm support, wherein the turn-up arms are rotatable with respect to the arm support from an arms-down position towards an arms-up position, wherein the method comprises the step of displacing the arm support such that each turn-up arm is turned-up into an intermediate position between the arms-down position and the arms-up position.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional application based on U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 17/227,080, filed Apr. 9, 2021, which in turn is adivisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/470,478, filed Jun.17, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,001,023, dated May 11, 2021, which inturn is a 371 of PCT International Patent Application Serial No.PCT/NL2017/50777, filed Nov. 27, 2017, the contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to a method for operating a tire building machine.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method foroperating a tire building machine, wherein the operation of the tirebuilding machine can be improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a method for operating a tire building machine,wherein the tire building machine comprises a first drum half fortogether with a second drum half forming a tire building drum, whereinthe tire building machine comprises a rotation axis and a drum shaftextending along the rotation axis for supporting said first drum halfand said second drum half on opposite sides of a center of the tirebuilding drum, wherein the first drum half comprises a base for mountingthe first drum half to the drum shaft, wherein the base has a centralaxis that is arranged to coincide with the rotation axis, wherein thebase is arranged to be movable over the drum shaft in the axialdirection parallel to said central axis, wherein the first drum half isfurther provided with a turn-up section comprising a plurality ofturn-up arms distributed circumferentially about said central axis andan arm support for supporting said turn-up arms with respect to thebase, wherein the turn-up arms are rotatable with respect to the armsupport from an arms-down position towards an arms-up position inresponse to a movement of an arm support in the arm drive direction,wherein the method comprises the step of displacing the arm support suchthat each turn-up arm is turned-up into an intermediate position betweenthe arms-down position and the arms-up position.

In one embodiment first drum half comprises a crown-up section with aplurality of crown segments distributed circumferentially about saidrotation axis and movable with respect to the base in a crown-updirection outwards in a radial direction with respect to the centralaxis from a crown-down position towards a crown-up position; wherein theturn-up arms are arranged for supporting one or more tire layers at thediameter of a circumferential surface of the tire building drum at thecrown-up section.

In said intermediate position, the turn-up arms can support one or morelayers of the green tire during their application on the circumferentialsurface of the tire building drum.

Said intermediate position may also be used to provide additionalsupport for tire layers and/or the bead at the bead-lock member in theaxial direction in case of high-pressure inflation of said tire layers,e.g. for truck tires.

According to a second, unclaimed aspect, the invention provides aturn-up section for a tire building drum, comprising a plurality ofturn-up arms distributed circumferentially about a central axis and anarm support for supporting said turn-up arms with respect to a base,wherein the turn-up arms are rotatable with respect to the arm supportfrom an arms-down position towards an arms-up position in response tothe movement of the arm support in an arm drive direction, wherein thearm support comprises a hinge seat for removably receiving therespective turn-up arm, wherein the respective turn-up arm is retainedin the hinge seat by one or more biasing members, wherein the respectiveturn-up arm is removable from the hinge seat in the radial direction bycounteracting the bias of the one or more biasing members. Hence, theturn-up arms can be removed from their respective hinge seats once aforce is generated on the turn-up arms that is opposite to and exceedsthe biasing force.

More in particular, each turn-up arm is provided with a cam surface thatis arranged for lifting the respective turn-up arm out of the respectivehinge seat when the respective turn-up arm is rotated radially outwardsbeyond the normal arms-up position. Hence, when the turn-up arms arerotated into an extreme arms-up position, the turn-up arms canautomatically be lifted out of their respective hinge seats, therebypreventing damage to the rest of the tire building machine.

In a further embodiment each turn-up arm comprises a hinge pin forrotatable coupling the respective turn-up arm to the arm support,wherein the hinge pin is removable received in the hinge seat andretained by the one or more biasing members in said hinge seat, whereinthe hinge pin of the respective turn-up arm is removable from the hingeseat in the radial direction by counteracting the bias of the one ormore biasing members.

In a further embodiment the cam surface is arranged for lifting thehinge pin out of the respective hinge seat when the respective turn-uparm is rotated radially outwards beyond the normal arms-up position.

According to a third, unclaimed aspect, the invention provides a firstdrum half for together with a second drum half forming a tire buildingdrum, wherein the first drum half comprises the aforementioned turn-upsection.

According to a fourth, unclaimed aspect, the invention provides a firstdrum half for together with a second drum half forming a tire buildingdrum of a tire building machine, wherein the tire building machinecomprises a rotation axis and a drum shaft extending along the rotationaxis for supporting said first drum half and said second drum half onopposite sides of a center of the tire building drum, wherein the tirebuilding machine further comprises a first drive member and a seconddrive member movable in an axial direction parallel to the rotation axiswith respect to the first drum half, wherein the first drum halfcomprises:

-   -   a base for mounting the first drum half to the drum shaft,        wherein the base has a central axis that is arranged to coincide        with the rotation axis, wherein the base is arranged to be        movable over the drum shaft in the axial direction parallel to        said central axis; and    -   a crown-up section comprising a plurality of crown segments        distributed circumferentially about said central axis and        movable with respect to the base in a crown-up direction        outwards in a radial direction with respect to the central axis        from a crown-down position towards a crown-up position;    -   wherein the first drum half comprises a displacement member for        displacing the crown segments in the crown-up direction, wherein        the first drum half further comprises a first coupling member        for coupling the first drive member to the base to drive the        movement of the base in the axial direction and a second        coupling member for coupling the second drive member to the        displacement member to drive the displacement of the crown        segments in the crown-up direction.

By using the first coupling member and the second coupling member tooperationally couple the base and the displacement member, respectively,to the drive members of the tire building machine inside the drum shaft,other driving mechanisms, such as a spindle or a push-pull rod, can beused to synchronously drive the drum halves. A mechanical transmissionwith spindles and/or push-pull rods can be considerably more accurateand direct than for example pneumatically driven drive mechanisms. Inparticular synchronous control of the crown segments of both drumhalves, and thereby accurate control of the center section of the tirebuilding drum, can be obtained.

In an embodiment thereof the first drive member and the second drivemember are movable in the axial direction inside the drum shaft, whereinthe first coupling member and the second coupling member are arrangedfor coupling the first drive member and the second drive member to thebase and the displacement member, respectively, from within the drumshaft. Hence, the first drum half can be operated by using drive membersthat are not part of the first drum half and that are located inside thedrum shaft.

In a further embodiment the first coupling member and the secondcoupling member are arranged to be independently movable. Therefore, theaxial displacement of the base and the radial displacement of the crownsegments can be controlled individually and/or independently.

In a further embodiment the displacement member is movable in a crowndrive direction parallel to the axial direction. Hence, the displacementmember can be moved together and/or in unison with the second drivemember inside the drum shaft.

In a further embodiment thereof the first drum half is arranged to beplaced on the drum shaft such that the crown drive direction is directedaway from the center of the tire building drum. Hence, the crownsegments can be displaced in the crown-up direction by moving thedisplacement member in the crown drive direction away from the center ofthe tire building drum.

In a further embodiment thereof the crown-up section comprises a crownsupport for supporting the crown segments with respect to the base and acrown drive for displacing the crown segments with respect to the crownsupport, wherein the displacement member is arranged for driving thecrown drive in the crown drive direction and wherein the crown drive isarranged for converting the movement of the displacement member in thecrown drive direction into the displacement of the crown segments in thecrown-up direction. Hence, an axially movable drive member within thedrum shaft can be used to actuate the radial displacement of the crownsegments in the crown-up direction.

In a further embodiment thereof the displacement member is provided witha crown drive surface facing in the crown drive direction for contactingthe crown drive in said crown drive direction and for displacing thecrown drive in the crown drive direction through said contact. By merelycontacting the crown drive, the displacement member can be movedindependently and/or freely with respect to the crown drive in an axialdirection opposite to the crown drive direction, e.g. to drive otheroperations of the tire building drum such as a turn-up operation.

In a further embodiment thereof the crown support and the crown drivecomprises two opposite drive surfaces, at least one of which is inclinedwith respect to the other, and wherein each crown segment comprises awedge that is received between the opposite drive surfaces, wherein thecrown drive is movable in the crown drive direction towards the crownsupport for forcing the wedge outwards in the crown-up direction. Theinteraction between the wedge and the opposite drive surfaces is asimple yet effective and accurate mechanism to convert the axialmovement of the displacement member into a radial movement or asubstantially radial movement of the crown segments.

In a further embodiment thereof the crown-up section comprises a biasingmember for biasing the crown drive away from the crown support in theaxial direction. The bias allows for the crown segments to return to thecrown-down position.

In a further embodiment thereof the first drum half comprises a lockingmember that is arranged for locking the crown drive in the axialdirection with respect to the base. By locking the crown drive, it canbe ensured that the crown segments remain in the crown-up positionduring other operations of the tire building drum, e.g. during a shapingoperation or a turn-up operation.

In an embodiment thereof the crown drive comprises a locking aperture,wherein the locking member is a locking pin that is arranged to engagethe locking aperture. The locking pin can simply be moved into thelocking aperture to lock the crown drive.

In an embodiment thereof the locking pin is pneumatically driven betweena locking position and release position, wherein the first drum half isprovided with a flow rate sensor for detecting an interruption of theair flow indicative of the locking pin being in one of the lockingposition and the release position. As the locking pin may not be visiblefrom the outside of the tire building drum, said detection can be usefulto determine the actual position of the locking pin.

In a further embodiment thereof the crown-up segments are located at oneside of the displacement member and the locking member is located at anopposite side of the displacement member with respect to the crown-upsegments, wherein the crown drive extends from the crown segments at theone side of the displacement member up to the locking member at theopposite side of the displacement member. Hence, the crown segments canbe locked by a locking member that is located at an opposite side of thedisplacement member with respect to the crown segments to be locked.

In a further embodiment thereof the displacement member is arranged tobe movable in the axial direction with respect to the locked crowndrive. Hence, the displacement member can be moved independently and/orfreely with respect to the locked crown drive to drive other operationsof the tire building drum, e.g. a turn-up

In a further embodiment the first drum half further comprises abead-lock section that is located in the axial direction between thecrown-up section and the turn-up section, wherein the bead-lock sectioncomprises a plurality of bead-lock members distributed circumferentiallyabout said central axis, a bead-lock support for supporting thebead-lock members with respect to the base and a bead-lock drive formoving the bead-lock members with respect to the bead-lock support inthe radial direction between a release position and a bead-lockposition, wherein the bead-lock support is fixed with respect to thebase in the axial direction. Hence, the crown drive can moved and/orlocked relative to the base and the bead-lock support associated withsaid base.

In an embodiment thereof the bead-lock section comprises a bead-lockseal which is arranged to extend over and seal the bead-lock member inan air-tight or substantially air-tight manner, wherein the bead-lockseal comprises a first end that is arranged to be mounted in anair-tight or substantially air-tight manner to the crown-up section anda second end that is arranged to be mounted in an air-tight orsubstantially air-tight manner in between the bead-lock member and amounting body directly adjacent to the bead-lock member, wherein thebead-lock seal is arranged to slide along the mounting body when thebead-lock member is moved between the release position and the bead-lockposition. The sliding can prevent that the air-tight seal between thebead-lock seal and the mounting body is interrupted when the bead-lockmember is moved in the radial direction.

Preferably, the mounting body is provided with a ridge at its radiallyouter side to retain the bead-lock seal in the radial direction. Morepreferably, the bead-lock seal is provided with a flange that facestowards the ridge in the radial direction and that is arranged to hookbehind said ridge in the radial direction. These features can furtherprevent the release of the bead-lock seal from the mounting body.

According to a fifth, unclaimed aspect, the invention provides a tirebuilding machine comprising the aforementioned first drum half and asecond drum half for together forming a tire building drum, wherein thetire building machine has a rotation axis defining an axial directionand a drum shaft extending in said axial direction for supporting saidfirst drum half and said second drum half on opposite sides of a centerof the tire building drum, wherein the tire building machine furthercomprises a drive system with a first drive member and a second drivemember which are arranged to be operationally coupled to the first drumhalf and a third drive member and a fourth drive member which arearranged to be operationally coupled to the second drum half foroperating said drum halves.

Hence, two of the drive members can be used to drive the displacement ofthe base and two of the drive members can be used to drive thedisplacement member to displace the crown segments in each of the drumhalves.

In an embodiment thereof the drive members are push-pull rods.Preferably, at least some of said push-pull rods are hollow to allowconcentric placement of all said push-pull rods with respect to therotation axis, one inside the other, inside the drum shaft. A mechanicaltransmission through with push-pull rods can be considerably moreaccurate and direct than for example pneumatically driven drivemechanisms. In particular synchronous control of the crown segments ofboth drum halves, and thereby accurate control of the center section ofthe tire building drum, can be obtained.

In a further embodiment thereof the drive system further comprises a setof spindles and flight nuts for separately connecting to and drivingeach push-pull rod. Hence, each push-pull rod can be separately drivento obtain synchronous operation of the tire building drum.

In a further embodiment thereof the drive system is arranged fordisplacing the arm support such that each turn-up arm is turned-up intoan intermediate position between the arms-down position and the arms-upposition. In said intermediate position, the turn-up arms can supportone or more layers of the green tire during their application on thecircumferential surface of the tire building drum. Said intermediateposition may also be used to provide additional support for tire layersand/or the bead at the bead-lock member in the axial direction in caseof high-pressure inflation of said tire layers, e.g. for truck tires.

In a further embodiment thereof the tire building drum comprises acenter section at the center between the first drum half and the seconddrum half, wherein the crown-up sections of both drum halves arearranged for supporting said center section. By controlling said drumhalves accurately and/or synchronously in accordance with one or more ofthe aforementioned embodiments, the center section can be moved moreaccurately and tire uniformity of the tire layers supported thereon canbe improved.

In a further embodiment thereof the tire building drum is removablyarranged on the drum shaft of the tire building machine so as to beinterchangeable with another tire building drum of a different type.Hence, different tire building operations can be carried out withdifferent tire building drums on the same tire building machine.

In an optional embodiment the drive system is arranged for displacingthe crown segments into a shoulder position for flat carcass building.Hence, both a flat carcass building method as a crown carcass buildingmethod can be performed on the same tire building machine withoutinterchanging the drum halves of the tire building drum.

According to a sixth, unclaimed aspect, the invention provides a methodfor operating the aforementioned tire building machine, wherein themethod comprises the steps of:

-   -   coupling the first drive member to the base to drive the        movement of the base in the axial direction; and    -   coupling the second drive member to the displacement member to        drive the displacement of the crown segments in the crown-up        direction.

In an embodiment thereof the method further comprises the step oflocking the crown drive in the axial direction with respect to the basewhen the crown segments are in the crown-up position.

Again, by using the first coupling member and the second coupling memberto operationally couple the base and the displacement member,respectively, to the drive members of the tire building machine insidethe drum shaft, other driving mechanisms, such as a spindle or apush-pull rod, can be used to synchronously drive the drum halves.

In an embodiment of the method the first drive member and the seconddrive member are moved in the axial direction inside the drum shaft,wherein the first coupling member and the second coupling member couplethe first drive member and the second drive member to the base and thedisplacement member, respectively, from within the drum shaft. Hence,the first drum half can be operated by using drive members that are notpart of the first drum half and that are located inside the drum shaft.

In another embodiment of the method the first coupling member and thesecond coupling member are independently moved by the first drive memberand the second drive member, respectively. Therefore, the axialdisplacement of the base and the radial displacement of the crownsegments can be controlled individually and/or independently.

In a further embodiment of the method, the drive members are push-pullrods, wherein each push-pull rod is separately driven. A mechanicaltransmission through with push-pull rods can be considerably moreaccurate and direct than for example pneumatically driven drivemechanisms. In particular synchronous control of the crown segments ofboth drum halves, and thereby accurate control of the center section ofthe tire building drum, can be obtained.

In an embodiment thereof the first drum half is further provided with aturn-up section comprising a plurality of turn-up arms distributedcircumferentially about said central axis and an arm support forsupporting said turn-up arms with respect to the base, wherein themethod comprises the step of using the displacement member to move thearm support in an arm drive direction opposite to the crown drivedirection and rotating the turn-up arms with respect to the arm supportfrom an arms-down position towards an arms-up position in response tothe movement of the arm support in the arm drive direction. Hence, twooperations of the tire building drum can be driven by the samedisplacement member. In particular, the crown-up can be driven by movingthe displacement member in the crown drive direction, while the turn-upcan be driven by moving the displacement member in the opposite armdrive direction. This can significantly reduce the number of drivemembers required for operating the tire building drum.

In a further embodiment of the method, the arm support is displaced suchthat each turn-up arm is turned-up into an intermediate position betweenthe arms-down position and the arms-up position. In said intermediateposition, the turn-up arms can support one or more layers of the greentire during their application on the circumferential surface of the tirebuilding drum. Said intermediate position may also be used to provideadditional support for tire layers and/or the bead at the bead-lockmember in the axial direction in case of high-pressure inflation of saidtire layers, e.g. for truck tires.

In a crown carcass building embodiment of the method, the turn-up armsare moved into the arms-up position after the crown segments aredisplaced into the crown-up position and prior to a shaping operation atthe center of the drum.

In an alternative flat carcass building embodiment of the method, thecrown segments are displaced into a shoulder position for flat carcassbuilding, wherein a shaping operation is performed at the center of thedrum after the crown segments are in the shoulder position and whereinthe turn-up arms are moved into the arms-up position after the shapingoperation has been completed.

Hence, both a flat carcass building method as well as a crown carcassbuilding method can be performed on the same tire building machinewithout interchanging the drum halves of the tire building drum.

In a further embodiment of the method, the tire building drum comprisesa center section at the center between the first drum half and thesecond drum half, wherein the crown-up sections of both drum halves arearranged for synchronously moving said center section in the radialdirection. By controlling said drum halves accurately and/orsynchronously in accordance with one or more of the aforementionedembodiments, the center section can be moved more accurately and tireuniformity of the tire layers supported thereon can be improved.

In a further embodiment of the method, the tire building drum isremovably arranged on the drum shaft of the tire building machine,wherein the method comprises the step of interchanging the tire buildingdrum with a tire building drum of a different type. Hence, differenttire building operations can be carried out with different tire buildingdrums on the same tire building machine.

The various aspects and features described and shown in thespecification can be applied, individually, wherever possible. Theseindividual aspects, in particular the aspects and features described inthe attached dependent claims, can be made subject of divisional patentapplications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodimentshown in the attached schematic drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a tire building machine with a tirebuilding drum and a drive system according to the invention, wherein thetire building drum is in a crown-down position;

FIG. 2 shows an isometric view of the tire building machine according toFIG. 1 with the tire building drum in a crown-up position;

FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of the tire building machine according toFIG. 1 with the tire building drum in a shaping position;

FIG. 4 shows a cross section of the tire building machine according toline IV-IV in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 5 shows a cross section of the tire building machine according toline V-V in FIG. 3 ;

FIGS. 6 and 7 show cross sections of the tire building machine accordingto FIG. 5 during the subsequent steps of a turn-up operation;

FIG. 8 shows a cross section of the tire building machine according toFIG. 5 during a return step following to the turn-up operation;

FIG. 9 shows a cross section of the drive system according to FIG. 1 fordriving the movements of the tire building drum between variouspositions;

FIGS. 10A and 10B shows details of the operation of a bead-lock memberof the tire building drum in the crown-down position of FIG. 1 and thecrown-up position of FIG. 2 , respectively;

FIGS. 11A and 11B show details of the operation of a turn-up arm of thetire building drum during the turn-up operation as shown in FIGS. 6 and7 ; and

FIGS. 12A and 12B show details of the operation of a locking pin of thetire building drum in the crown-down position of FIG. 1 and the crown-upposition of FIG. 2 , respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-8 show a tire building drum 1, in particular a crown drum, forsingle stage tire building. Hence, said tire building drum 1 is arrangedfor expanding and contracting in both an axial direction A and a radialdirection R.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 , the tire building drum 1 comprises afirst drum half 11 and a said second drum half 12 that together form thetire building drum 1. In particular, the first drum half 11 and thesecond drum half 12 form and/or define a circumferential surface 10 ofthe tire building drum 1 that is arranged for receiving and/orsupporting one or more layers, e.g. carcass layers, body plies, breakerplies, sidewalls and/or treads, for building a green or unvulcanisedtire (not shown). The tire building drum 1 is an exchangeable part of atire building machine 7. The tire building machine 7 comprises a drivesystem 8 and a drum shaft 9 extending in the axial direction A from thedrive system 8 and defining a rotation axis X. The drum shaft 9 isarranged for supporting the first drum half 11 and the second drum half12 on opposite sides of a center M of the tire building drum 1. At thecenter M, the tire building drum 1 is typically provided with a centerdeck 70 for supporting the tire layers between the drum halves 11, 12.The drive system 8 comprises a rotation drive 80 for driving the drumshaft 9, and the drum halves 11, 12 supported thereon, in a rotationabout the rotation axis X. As shown in FIG. 9 , the drive system 8comprises a first drive member 81 and a second drive member 82 which arearranged to be operationally coupled to the first drum half 11 and athird drive member 83 and a fourth drive member 84 which are arranged tobe operationally coupled to the second drum half 12 for operating saiddrum halves 11, 12 in a manner that will be described in more detailhereafter. The drive members 81-84 are linearly moveable in the axialdirection A at or parallel to said rotation axis X.

The drive members 81-84 are preferably push-pull rods 81-84, known perse from WO 2011/019280 A1. At least some of said push-pull rods 81-84are hollow to allow concentric placement of all said push-pull rods81-84 with respect to the rotation axis X, one inside the other, insidethe drum shaft 9. The push-pull rod 81 that connects to one of the drumhalves 11, 12 at a position closest to the drive system 8 is located onthe outside, whilst the push-pull rods 81-84 that connect to the drumhalves 11, 12 at positions further away from the drive system 8 arelocated more inwards in sequence. The drive system 8 further comprises aset of spindles 85, 86 and flight nuts 87, also known per se from WO2011/019280 A1, for separately connecting to and driving each push-pullrod 81-84. The drive mechanism as disclosed in WO 2011/019280 A1 allowsfor directly, accurately and/or synchronously driving the drum halves11, 12 of the tire building drum 1 of the present invention, e.g. withthe use of servo motors. The mechanical transmission through thespindles 85, 86, the flight nuts 87 and the push-pull rods 81-84 isconsiderably more accurate and direct than for example pneumaticallydriven drive mechanisms.

It is further noted that the tire building drum 1 according to thepresent invention is removably arranged on the drum shaft 9 of the tirebuilding machine 7 so as to be interchangeable with other tire buildingdrums, e.g. the known tire building drum as disclosed in WO 2011/019280A1. Hence, various single stage tire building operations, can beperformed on the same tire building machine 7 simply by interchangingone tire building drum for another. Examples of tire building operationsto be performed on the same tire building machine 7 include, but are notlimited to: one ply up; one ply up and one ply down; two ply up; two plyup and one ply down; and any of the aforementioned operations to achievea tread over sidewall (TOS) configuration, a sidewall over tread (SOT)configuration or a configuration with a run-flat insert (RFI).

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 , the drum halves 11, 12 of the tirebuilding drum 1 are arranged to be operated mirror-symmetrically aboutthe center M of the tire building drum 1. Hence, the drum halves 11,12—apart from being mirror-symmetrical to each other—are identical orsubstantially identical. The operation of said drum halves 11, 12 willbe elucidated further on the basis of FIGS. 4-8 and with reference tothe first drum half 11 only. The one skilled in the art will howeverappreciate that the description of the first drum half 11 appliesmutatis mutandis to the second drum half 12.

As best seen in FIG. 4 , the first drum half 11 comprises a cylindricalbase 2 for mounting the first drum half 11 concentrically to the drumshaft 9. The base 2 defines or has a central axis that is arranged tocoincide with the rotation axis X. Hence, the central axis and therotation axis X are both referred to hereafter with reference sign X.The base 2 is arranged to be movable over the drum shaft 9 in the axialdirection A parallel to said central axis X. The base 2 is fixed withrespect to the drum shaft 9 in the rotational direction about thecentral axis X so as to rotate together with the drum shaft 9 when thedrum shaft 9 is rotated. The tire building drum 1 is provided with afirst coupling member 13 for coupling the first drive member 81 to thebase 2. Hence, through control of the drive system 8 in FIG. 9 , thebase 2 can be move back and forth in the axial direction A in acontrolled and accurate manner.

The first drum half 11 comprises a bead-lock section 3 and a turn-upsection 4 at a side of the bead-lock section 3 facing away from thecenter M of the tire building drum 1. The bead-lock section 3 isarranged for receiving and locking a bead of a green tire on the tirebuilding drum 1 prior to shaping the layers of the green tire. Theturn-up section 4 is arranged for turning-up parts of the layers locatedin the axial direction A outside of said bead-lock section 3 withrespect to the center M of the tire building drum 1 around the bead atthe bead-lock section 3 and against the part of the layers at the insideof the bead-lock section 3 with respect to the center M of the tirebuilding drum 1. The tire building drum 1 according to the presentinvention distinguishes itself from the tire building drum as disclosedin WO 2011/019280 A1 in that it further comprises a shoulder section ora crown-up section 5 that is located in the axial direction A betweenthe bead-lock section 3 and center M of the tire building drum 1. Thecrown-up section is arranged for expanding the tire layers supported onthe tire building drum 1 in the radial direction R with respect to thebead-lock section 3.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the bead-lock section 3 comprises a plurality ofbead-lock members 30 distributed circumferentially about the centralaxis X, a bead-lock support 31 for supporting the bead-lock members 30with respect to the base 2 and a bead-lock drive 32 for moving theplurality of bead-lock members 30 with respect to the bead-lock support31 in the radial direction R between a lock position, as shown in FIG.10A, and a release position, as shown in FIG. 10B. The bead-lock support31 is connected and/or fixed to the base 2 in the axial direction A formoving the bead-lock section 3 together with the base 2 towards and awayfrom the center M of the tire building drum 1, e.g. during the crown-upor shaping. The bead-lock drive 32 comprises a plurality of bead-lockwedges 33 that are arranged to be driven underneath the plurality ofbead-lock members 30 to force said bead-lock members 30 outwards in theradial direction R. The bead-lock wedges 33 can be driven pneumaticallyin a manner known per se.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 , the turn-up section 4 comprises aplurality of turn-up arms 40 distributed circumferentially about saidcentral axis X and an arm support 41 for supporting said turn-up arms 40with respect to the base 2. The turn-up arms 40 are hingable, swivableor rotatable in respective radial planes with respect to the arm support41 about hinge axes H perpendicular to each respective radial planebetween an arms-down position, as shown in FIG. 4 , and arms-uppositions, as shown in FIG. 7 , for turning-up the part of the tirelayers outside of the bead-lock section 3 with respect to the center Mof the tire building drum 1. In this exemplary embodiment, each turn-uparm 40 is provided with a turn-up roller 42 at the distal end withrespect to the arm support 41, for contacting and rolling over theturned-up parts of the tire layer. The turn-up section 4 furthercomprises one or more biasing members 43 for biasing the turn-up arms 40from the arms-up position to the arms-down position. In this exemplaryembodiment, the one or more biasing members 43 are provided in the formof annular springs extending circumferentially around the turn-up arms40. In FIG. 6 , the turn-up arms 40 are shown in an optionalintermediate position for supporting one or more layers of the greentire during their application on the circumferential surface 10 of thetire building drum 1. Said intermediate position may also be used toprovide additional support for tire layers and/or the bead at thebead-lock member 30 in the axial direction A in case of high-pressureinflation of said tire layers, e.g. for truck tires. In the intermediateposition, the turn-up arms 40 are arranged for supporting the tirelayers at or near the diameter of the circumferential surface 10 of thetire building drum 1 at the crown-up section 5.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7 , the arm support 41 is movable and/orslidable with respect to said base 2 over a turn-up stroke E in an armdrive direction D parallel to the axial direction A towards the center Mof the tire building drum 1. The bead-lock section 3 comprises a run-onsurface 34 for guiding and/or deflecting the turn-up arms 40 from amovement in the axial direction A together with the arm support 41 intothe upward rotation required to go from the arms-down position to thearms-up position. As a result, when the arm support 41 is moved in thearm drive direction D towards the bead-lock section 3, the turn-up arms40, and in particular the turn-up rollers 42 thereof, in response aremoved onto, up and over the run-on surface 34 towards the arms-upposition as shown in FIG. 7 .

The first drum half 11 comprises a displacement member 15 for displacingsaid arm support 41 in both the arm drive direction D and a crown drivedirection T opposite to said arm drive direction D. In this exemplaryembodiment, both the arm support 41 and the displacement member 15 areslidably supported on the bead-lock support 31. The displacement member15 is provided with an arm drive surface 16 that faces in the arm drivedirection D towards the arm support 41 for contacting and for displacingsaid arm support 41 in the arm drive direction D through said contact.The tire building drum 1 is provided with a second coupling member 14for coupling the second drive member 82 to the displacement member 15.Hence, through control of the drive system 8 in FIG. 9 , thedisplacement member 15 can be move back and forth in the axial directionA for moving the arm support 41 in a controlled and accurate manner. Thedrum shaft 9 and the bead-lock support 31 are provided with respectiveslots 90, extending in the axial direction A at the position of thesecond coupling member 14 to allow the coupling of said second couplingmember 14 inside the drum shaft 9 to the displacement member 15 at thebead-lock support 31. The slots 90, 35 extend over the length of theturn-up stroke E in the axial direction A to facilitate a full turn-upof the turn-up arms 40 into the arms-up position as shown in FIG. 7 .

The turn-up section 4 further comprises a return member 47, e.g. areturn rod, that extends from the arm support 41 in the crown drivedirection T away from the center M of the tire building drum 1. Thereturn member 47 comprises a catch element 48 that is arranged to catchthe displacement member 15 during a return motion in the crown drivedirection T. The return member 47 defines a return stroke H over whichthe displacement member 15 can be moved in the crown drive direction Twithout interacting with the arm support 41. Once, the displacementmember 15 moves into contact with the catch element 48, the displacementmember starts to displace the arm support 41 in the crown drivedirection T, thereby returning the turn-up arms 40 from the arms-uppositions to the arms-down position.

As shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, each turn-up arm comprises a hinge pin 44for rotatably coupling the respective turn-up arms 40 to the arm support41. The arm support 41 comprises a hinge seat 45 for removably receivingthe hinge pin 44 of the respective turn-up arm 40. As best seen in FIG.11B, each hinge seat 45 is provided with a slot for receiving the hingepin 44 of the respective turn-up arm 40. The turn-up arm 40 is retainedwith its hinge pin 44 inside the slot by the one or more biasing members43. Consequently, the hinge pin 44 of the turn-up arm 40 is removablefrom the hinge seat 45 in the radial direction R by counteracting thebias of the one or more biasing members 43. In some cases, it isdesirable to automatically disconnect the turn-up arms 40 from theirrespective hinge seats 45, for example, when the turn-up arms 40 arerotated radially outwards into an extreme arms-up position that ishigher than the normal arms-up position as shown in FIG. 7 . To preventdamage to the tire building drum 1 in such an extreme arms-up position,each turn-up arm 40 is provided with a cam surface 46 that is arrangedfor abutting the displacement member 15 when the turn-up arm 40 arerotated radially outwards beyond the normal arms-up position. More inparticular, the cam surface 46 is arranged for lifting the hinge pin 44of the turn-up arm 40 out of the hinge seat 45, as shown in FIG. 11B.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 , the crown-up section 5 comprises aplurality of shoulder segments or crown segments 50 distributedcircumferentially around the base 2 about said central axis X, a crownsupport 51 for supporting the crown segments 50 with respect to the base2 and a crown drive 52 for moving the crown segments 50 with respect tothe crown support 51 in the radial direction R between a crown-downposition, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 , and a crown-up position, as shownin FIGS. 2 and 5 . In this exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and5 , the crown support 51 is fixed to the bead-lock support 31 while thecrown drive 52 is movable with respect to said bead-lock support 31 overa crown-up stroke G parallel to the axial direction A in the directionof the center M of the tire building drum 1. The crown drive 52 and thecrown support 51 cooperate to convert the movement of the crown drive 52over the crown-up stroke G in the axial direction A into a crown-upmovement of the crown segments 50 in a crown-up direction C parallel tothe radial direction R.

In this particular embodiment, each crown segment 50 is formed as awedge 54 that is supported between a complementary shaped first drivesurface 55 at the crown drive 52 and a second drive surface 56 at thecrown support 51, wherein the first drive surface 55 and the seconddrive surface 56 are oppositely inclined with respect to each other. Bymoving the crown drive 52 over the crown-up stroke G in the axialdirection A, the intermediate distance between the respective oppositelyinclined drive surfaces 55, 56 can be reduced, thereby driving and/orforcing the wedge 54 of the crown segment 50 upwards in the crown-updirection C. The crown-up section 5 further comprises a biasing member57, e.g. a compressible spring, that is arranged between the crown drive52 and the crown support 51 for biasing the crown drive 52 away from thecrown support 51 in the axial direction A to facilitate the return ofthe crown drive 52 to its original position, thereby allowing the crownsegments 50 to return from the crown-up position to the crown-downposition.

As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the displacement member 15 is arrangedfor displacing the crown drive 52 over the crown-up stroke G in thecrown drive direction T. In particular, the displacement member 15 isprovided with a crown drive surface 17 facing in the crown drivedirection T and the crown drive 52 is provided with an abutment member53 that is in the way of the crown drive surface 17 in the crown drivedirection T. Once the crown drive surface 17 and the abutment member 53are in contact, the displacement member 15 and the crown drive 52 aredisplaceable together in the crown drive direction T through saidcontact. The turn-up section 4 is provided with a spacing member 49,e.g. a spacing rod, that extends from one of the arm support 41 and thebase 2 in the axial direction A towards a stop surface 18 on the otherof the arm support 41 and the base 2. When the spacing member 49contacts the stop surface 18, the arm support 41 is stopped and can notbe moved further in the crown drive direction T. The spacing member 49serves to keep a distance clear and/or free between the arm support 41and the stop surface 18, over which distance the displacement member 15can be moved in a free stroke F to facilitate the crown-up stroke Gwithout the displacement member 15 interacting with the arm support 41.The free stroke F defined by the spacing member 49 is preferably equalto or larger than the return stroke H as defined by the return member47.

Preferably, the spacing member 49 and the return member 47 are the samemember, as shown in FIGS. 4-8 .

As shown in FIG. 4 , the tire building drum 1 further comprises alocking device 6 with a locking member 60, a locking holder 61 forholding the locking member 60 and a locking drive 62 for moving thelocking member 60 with respect to the locking holder 61 between alocking position and a release for locking and releasing, respectively,of the crown drive 52 with respect to the base 2 and/or the bead-locksupport 31. The locking holder 61 is fixedly attached to the base 2and/or the bead-lock support 31. When the locking member 60 is in thelocked position, the locking member 60 is arranged to engage the crowndrive 52 to lock said crown drive 52 with respect to the bead-locksupport 31 in the axial direction A. In the locking position of thelocking member 60, the crown drive 52 can thus be moved together withsaid bead-lock support 31 in the axial direction A, e.g. during shapingoperations. As the crown drive 52 is locked with respect to thebead-lock support 31 and the crown support 51 was already fixed to thebead-lock support 31, the intermediate distance between the crown drive52 and the crown support 51 in the axial direction A is fixed. Hence,the crown segments 50 are held in place and/or fixed in the radialdirection R in their respective crown-up positions.

In this exemplary embodiment, the stop surface 18 is provided at the armsupport 41 and faces in the crown drive direction T. The spacing member49 extends from the locking holder 61 towards the stop surface 18 of thearm support 41. Hence, the return of the arm support 41 in the crowndrive direction T is stopped when the spacing member 47 contacts thestop surface 18 at the arm support 41.

In this exemplary embodiment, the locking member 60 is a locking pin 60and the locking holder 61 is a locking channel 61 for slidably receivingthe locking member 60. The locking pin 60 is slidable in a lockingdirection L out of a locking channel 61. Preferably, the locking channel61 is sealed in an air-tight manner at one end to allow for at least apart of the locking channel 61 to be pressurized. Hence, the lockingdrive 62 can be a source of pressurized air for pneumatically drivingthe locking member 60 out of the locking channel 61 towards and intoengagement with the crown drive 52. The locking device 6 furthercomprises a biasing member 63, e.g. a spring, that is arranged forbiasing the locking pin 60 towards the release position when thepressure in the locking channel 61 is reduced.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the locking device 6 is provided at or near the endof the crown-up stroke G in the crown drive direction T, e.g. at or nearthe same axial position as the first coupling member 13. In thisparticular example, the crown drive 52 extends from the crown segments50 at one side of the displacement member 15 up to the locking device 6at the opposite side of the displacement member 15. Preferably, thecrown drive 52 comprises a locking aperture 58 that is arranged to beout of line with the locking channel 61 when the crown drive 52 is atthe start of the crown-up stroke G, as shown in FIG. 4 , and to bealigned with the locking channel 61 when the crown drive 52 is at theend of the crown-up stroke 61, as shown in FIG. 5 . The locking pin 60is arranged to engage said locking aperture 58, thereby retaining thecrown drive 52 to the locking holder 61.

As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the locking device 6 is provided with asensor 64 for sensing the position of the locking member 60. In theembodiment of the locking pin 60, the sensor 64 is arranged for sensingthe position of the locking member 60 based on air-flow. To that end, itcan be observed in FIGS. 12A and 12B that the locking device 6 isprovided with cover 65 that seals the locking channel 61 and a pilotshaft 66 extending through the cover 61 in the radial direction R andconnected to the locking pin 60 so as to be movable together with thelocking pin 60 in the locking direction L. The sensor 64 is preferablylocated in fluid communication with the air-flow that drives the lockingpin 60. The pilot shaft 66 is provided with an annular seal 68 that, inthe release position of the locking pin 60, is located above the airchamber 67 and the locking channel 61 and that, in the locking positionof the locking pin 60, is located between the locking channel 61 and theair chamber 67. The pilot shaft 66 is fitted inside the cover 61 withsome positive tolerance so that air can pass from the locking channel 61along the pilot shaft 66 into the air chamber 67. As a result, an airflow can be detected as long as the annular seal 68 does not block thepath of the air flow, thus indicating the release position as shown inFIG. 12A. When the path of the air flow is blocked by the annular seal68, the air flow is interrupted, which is indicative of the locking pin60 being in the locking position, as shown in FIG. 12B.

As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the bead-lock section 3 preferablycomprises a bead-lock seal 36 in the form of a flexible sleeve which isarranged to extend over and seal the plurality of bead-lock members 30in an air-tight or substantially air-tight manner. Hence, the bead-lockseal 36 comprises a first end that is arranged to be mounted in anair-tight or substantially air-tight manner to the crown-up section 5and a second end that is arranged to be mounted in an air-tight orsubstantially air-tight manner to the first drum half 11 at a side ofthe bead-lock member 30 opposite to the crown-up section 5. Inparticular, the second end of the bead-lock seal 36 is arranged to beinterposed between the bead-lock member 30 and a mounting body 37directly adjacent to the bead-lock member 30. In this exemplaryembodiment, the mounting body 37 comprises and/or defines the run-onsurface 34 for the turn-up arms 40.

Either the mounting body 37, the bead-lock member or both are at leastpartially spaced apart to receive the second end of the bead-lock seal36 therein between. When the bead-lock member 30 is moved radiallyoutwards into the bead-lock position as shown in FIG. 10A, the bead-lockseal 36 will slide along the mounting body 37 while maintaining theair-tight or substantially air-tight seal. To prevent the bead-lock seal36 from unintentionally moving out of abutment with the mounting body37, the mounting body 37 is preferably provided with a ridge 38 at itsradially outer side to retain the bead-lock seal 36 in the radialdirection R. More preferably, the bead-lock seal 36 itself is providedwith a flange 39 that faces towards the ridge 38 in the radial directionR and that is arranged to hook behind and/or engage said ridge 38 toprevent the bead-lock seal 36 from passing the ridge 38 when airpressure is exerted on the bead-lock seal 36 during a shaping operation.

The method for operating the aforementioned tire building machine 7 willbe described hereafter with reference to FIGS. 1-9 .

FIGS. 1 and 4 shows the situation in which the tire building drum 1 ofthe tire building machine 7 is in a flat starting position. Thebead-lock members 30 are in the release position, the turn-up arms 40are in the arms-down position and the crown-segments 50 are in thecrown-down position. The tire building drum 1 is now ready for receivingone or more tire components, in particular carcass plies, around itscircumferential surface 10. Two beads are provided around said one ormore tire components at the location of the bead-lock sections 3. Once,the one or more tire components are received, the bead-lock members arecaused to move radially outwards into the bead-lock position, as shownin FIG. 5 , to seal the one or more tire components against said beads.Shortly thereafter, the first drive member 81 and the fourth drivemember 84 are operated to move the first coupling members 13 of therespective drum halves 11, 12, and thereby the drum halves 11, 12 as awhole, in the axial direction A towards each other, as shown in FIGS. 2and 5 . Simultaneously, the second drive member 82 and the third drivemember 83 are operated to move the second coupling members 14 of therespective drum halves 11, 12 in the axial direction A away from eachother in the respective crown drive directions T to cause the crownsegments 50 to move in the radial direction R towards the crown-upposition. The center deck 70 is lifted synchronously by the crownsegments 50 of both drum halves 11, 12 into the crown-up position tosupport the one or more tire components.

With the crown segments 50 expanded into the crown-up position, thecrown drive 52 is locked by the locking device 6 in the manner aspreviously described, after which the second drive member 82 and thethird drive member 83 are operated to move the second coupling members14 of the respective drum halves 11, 12 in the axial direction A towardseach other in the arm drive direction D, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 ,thereby causing a turn-up of the turn-up arms 40 towards and into thearms-up position as shown in FIG. 7 . This causes the plies locatedaxially outside the bead-lock sections 3 to be turned up around thebeads. Subsequently, the first drive member 81 and the fourth drivemember 84 are operated again to move the first coupling members 13 ofthe respective drum halves 11, 12, and thereby the drum halves 11, 12 asa whole, further in the axial direction A towards each other, as shownin FIG. 3 , to allow for a shaping operation, e.g. inflation of the tirecomponents at the center deck 70, to be performed at the center M of thetire building drum 1.

The previously described method is known as a crown carcass buildingmethod. Said method involves the turning-up of plies prior to theshaping operation.

The tire building machine 7 according to the invention can optionallyalso be used to perform an alternative method, known as a flat carcassbuilding method. In said alternative method, the crown segments 50 ofthe crown-up section 5 are moved in the radial direction R into ashoulder position which is at the same radial distance from the centralaxis X or lower than the crown-up position. Subsequently, the tirecomponents axially between the bead-lock sections 3 are shaped, e.g. byinflation. In contrast to the previously discussed crown carcassbuilding method, the plies axially outside the bead-lock sections 3 areonly turned-up after the shaping operation.

Hence, both methods can be performed on the same tire building machine 7without interchanging the drum halves 11, 12 of the tire building drum1. It merely requires controlling the drive system 8 differently so thatthe drive members 81-84 are operated in a different order.

In this exemplary embodiment, the schematic cross sections in FIGS. 4-8are presented as in a single cross section plane through the tirebuilding drum 1, as indicated with lines IV-IV and V-V in FIGS. 1 and 3, respectively, for the purpose of showing the many differentoperational principles of the tire building drum 1 in a single drawing.However, it is noted that parts of the first drum half 1 may be locatedin different radial planes. The upper half of the cross section abovethe central axis X and the bottom half of the cross section below thecentral axis X may for example be cross sections in different radiallyextending planes of the tire building drum 1, e.g. at an angle of sixtydegrees to each other.

It is to be understood that the above description is included toillustrate the operation of the preferred embodiments and is not meantto limit the scope of the invention. From the above discussion, manyvariations will be apparent to one skilled in the art that would yet beencompassed by the scope of the present invention.

In summary, the invention relates to a first drum half for together witha second drum half forming a tire building drum of a tire buildingmachine. The invention further relates to said tire building machine andto a method for operating said machine. The machine comprises a firstdrive member and a second drive member movable in the axial directioninside the drum shaft. The first drum half comprises a base movable overthe drum shaft in an axial direction, a crown-up section comprising aplurality of crown segments and a displacement member for displacing thecrown segments in a crown-up direction, wherein the first drum halffurther comprises a first coupling member for coupling the first drivemember to the base to drive the movement of the base and a secondcoupling member for coupling the second drive member to the displacementmember to drive the displacement of the crown segments.

1. A method for operating a tire building machine, wherein the tirebuilding machine comprises a first drum half for together with a seconddrum half forming a tire building drum, wherein the tire buildingmachine comprises a rotation axis and a drum shaft extending along therotation axis for supporting said first drum half and said second drumhalf on opposite sides of a center of the tire building drum, whereinthe first drum half comprises a base for mounting the first drum half tothe drum shaft, wherein the base has a central axis that is arranged tocoincide with the rotation axis, wherein the base is arranged to bemovable over the drum shaft in the axial direction parallel to saidcentral axis, wherein the first drum half is further provided with aturn-up section comprising a plurality of turn-up arms distributedcircumferentially about said central axis and an arm support forsupporting said turn-up arms with respect to the base, wherein theturn-up arms are rotatable with respect to the arm support from anarms-down position towards an arms-up position in response to a movementof the arm support in an arm drive direction, wherein the methodcomprises the step of displacing the arm support wherein each turn-uparm is turned-up into an intermediate position between the arms-downposition and the arms-up position.
 2. The method according to claim 1,wherein first drum half comprises a crown-up section with a plurality ofcrown segments distributed circumferentially about said rotation axisand movable with respect to the base in a crown-up direction outwards ina radial direction with respect to the central axis from a crown-downposition towards a crown-up position; wherein the turn-up arms arearranged for supporting one or more tire layers at the diameter of acircumferential surface of the tire building drum at the crown-upsection.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein each turn-up arm inthe intermediate position supports one or more layers during theirapplication on a circumferential surface of the tire building drum. 4.The method according to claim 1, wherein each turn-up arm in theintermediate position is used to provide additional support for one ormore tire layers in case of high-pressure inflation of said one or moretire layers.
 5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the first drumhalf further comprises a bead-lock section that is located in the axialdirection between the crown-up section and the turn-up section, whereinthe bead-lock section comprises a plurality of bead-lock membersdistributed circumferentially about said central axis, wherein eachturn-up arm in the intermediate position is used to provide additionalsupport for a bead at the bead-lock member in the axial direction incase of high-pressure inflation of one or more tire layers.
 6. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the one or more layers are one ormore layers of a truck tire.